S&W Model 64 comes home

[O.S.O.K.]

Got it Monday afternoon! Cleaned it up (had some leading in the forcing cone) and traded out the original grips for some new Eagle Classic rosewood ones:

http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/medium/S_WM64.jpg

The original grips on it are in good shape but could use a refinish - but they will stay in the pouch that the Eagle grips came in for now...

I'm going to cast up some keith swc boolits for it - 173 grain plain base and load over some Alliant Power Pistol for about 900 fps or some Unique to around 850 - if that shoots to point of aim. Otherwise, I'll adjust to bring it on.

You know, looking at this guns's cylinder, it looks like the same cylinder size that they used for thier .357 Mags - and I bet its the same steel too. Should be a very strong and durable pistol for a long time. It will get only 38 Special standard or +P loads though. I want it to shoot to POA and the sights are fixed and should be regulated to a 158 grain bullet traveling aroun 850 fps.

[theperfessor]

Sweet!

[358wcf]

That's a mighty fine piece of S&W you have there-
The K frame Smith in 38 Special is a classic revolver, and will give you a lifetime of service with very little care. Solid, accurate, extremely well made; you will be proud to own and shoot this for years to come. Care for it well and leave it to your grandchildren.
Measure the cylinder throats and size your bullets to fit that dimension, and do not make the mistake of using too hard an alloy in your boolits. You are correct that the sights will be regulated for a 158gr 800-850fps load.
Given the same velocity, h[smilie=1:eavier bullets will strike higher, lighter will strike lower. Pick a boolit you like near 158gr (150-170) that groups well, and adjust your velocity to put strike on target at your desired point of aim.
Write that load down, and make it your standard for that revolver, and you will be a happy man. Then, practice, practice, practice! You will find that a quality boolit that fits your cylinder over about 5gr Unique will do anything and everything you could ever need from a 38Special.
Enjoy your new friend!

358wcf

[Hurricane]

The 173 grain bullet will probably shoot 2 or 3 inches high at 25 yards. A little less powder or Hollow Pointing the bullet (decreases weight) will drop the bullet to point of aim with the fixed sights. Any boolit within 5 grains of 158 (plus or minus) should be right on point of aim in the 750 to 800 fps range.

[cajun shooter]

That was the issue revolver when I went on the Sheriffs office in 1976. I carry the big brother to it even today. The model 65 with 3in bull barrel. I have Sig 220, Colt Commander, and S&W 645 but still chose the K frame Smith to carry.

[machinisttx]

AFAIK, there are some very slight differences between magnum frames and non magnum frames. The cylinders are probably made from the same blanks.

[Char-Gar]

Those pencil barrel 64s are not all that common. My Brother-in-law has one and I keep trying to get it away from him, but so far no luck.

[O.S.O.K.]

My experience with handguns is that lower velocity = higher impact and higher velocity = lower impact.

Of course, at longer range this is not true as the trajectory of the faster boolits over-rules the muzzle flip.

I would really like it if the 173 grain boolit would need to be pushed a bit faster to hit to POA. ;) This revolver is plenty strong enough for +P loads...

[9.3X62AL]

Fine looking machine with those Eagle grips in place!

A previously-issued Model 64 x 4" heavy-barrel and now a Model 10 x 5" shoot right to the sights with Lyman #358477 (152 grain SWC) running 950 FPS. In the latter revo, my Lyman #358429 (163 grain) goes right to the sights at about 875 FPS. All results at 25 yards.

There is a LOT of room for boosting velocities in the K-frame 38 Specials. I ran #358477 to 1100 FPS in the 4" M-64, and cases fell free with a light thumb-press on the extractor rod. THAT would have been a fine service load, and might have done all right on deer at shorter ranges. Alliant 2400 is your friend when you set out on such pathways.

[O.S.O.K.]

Thanks guys - and thanks for the additional info!

[O.S.O.K.]

Additional load data for the Lyman 358429 boolit:

Unique 5.0 grains 917 fps 6" Colt revolver
HS-6 6.4 grains 889 fps " "
Bullseye 4.0 grains 847 fps " "

+P pressure

Unique 5.5 grains 1017 fps 6" Colt revolver

Got this from Handloader #233 - Brian Pearce article about the Colt King Super Target revolver.